Bike and Band Crawl fundraiser

ALPENA – The Alpena Mixed Beach Volleyball League has become one of the largest in the state and it is continuing to grow. With the growth, however, comes the cost of maintaining and improving the sand courts at Mich-e-ke-wis Park and the APlex, and providing safe equipment.

In order to help defray the cost of renovations at the courts and further expansion of the league, three local businesses have teamed up for the Bike & Band Crawl on June 14.

The event will feature stops at Latitudes Tavern at 2:30 p.m. where ticket holders will receive a beverage and entertainment by the Electrocats before moving to The Fresh Palate for more fun and music by Charlie and the Bourbons. The final stop for the crawl is at Chief’s Bar and Grill, where The Fresh Palate will provide a catered dinner and classic rock band Human Wreckage will cap off the night. The show begins at 8 p.m. and will wrap up at 12 a.m.

There also will be a Chinese auction with many great items up for grabs. Participants are encouraged to ride their bikes from location to location and ride as a group if possible.

League founder Jim Johnson said the league has grown from nine teams in its initial year to 46 this summer. He said there has been a significant amount of work done to the existing courts already but more improvements are being looked at and more equipment needed.

“We want to keep the courts in as pristine condition as we can and for it not to be a burden on the city,” Johnson said. “To be honest we already have premier courts for a town as small as Alpena and we want to be able to continue to make improvements on them. Now we have one of the largest leagues in the state and with that comes the need for new balls, nets and maintenance. The fundraiser will help to cover the cost of those things.”

The cost of the wristband is $15 a person and gives people the dinner and a chance to dance the night away to the entertainment. Chief’s owner Brian Mayo said it is a bargain and it is for a good cause. He said the bands that will be performing offer something for anyone’s musical taste.

“The league is a great thing for Alpena and the event is going to be great,” Mayo said. “The Electrocats are from Lansing and feature guitar and harmonic and are really good, Charlie and the Bourbons plays a lot of modern rock with their own twist and Human Wreckage will headline the event with a great mix of classic rock and they have a lot of energy during the show.”

Wristbands for the Bike & Band Crawl are available at Latitudes Tavern, the Fresh Palate and Chief’s Bar and Grill. They also will be available on Tuesday night at the courts.

For the latest updates on the event and the volleyball league follow the Alpena Mixed Beach Volleyball League on Facebook and at the band’s individual pages and profiles also on Facebook.